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DUPLICITY Send This Review to a Friend
In contrast with so much of the junk coming out of the major studios these days, “Duplicity” at least is good enough to seem like comparative gold with flashes of wit and sass. True, the convolutions in the story of industrial espionage and personal intrigue are carried to such extremes that one may weary of the plot permutations before the film is over. But there are the co-stars, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, both of whom are easy to watch as they go through their romantic involvement and incessant scheming. There are also worthy supporting performances.
“Duplicity” is an apt title. In the romp written and directed by Tony Gilroy two corporations are competing with other, involving efforts to steal a supposedly valuable product. The battle royal is symbolized by a silly slow-motion fight at an airport between two honchos as the film’s prelude to the rivalry that follows.
The bosses trying to outdo each other, one played by Tom Wilkinson, the other by Paul Giamatti, behave like quarrelling children, only with high financial stakes that in themselves seem absurd. Personal glee at coming out on top seems as great a motivation as financial rewards.
Enter Owen and Roberts. Owen plays Ray, who has been an M16 operative, and Roberts is Claire, a CIA gal. There is quick chemistry between them when they meet, and some smart repartee leads to the bedroom, where Ray awakens to realize he’s been had in more ways than sex. The two are off-and-running in various encounters that lead them to concoct a scheme of how to fleece the companies they work for. Or are they trying to dupe each other? The game is to keep the audience wondering every step of the way, while interspersing sex, snappy dialogue and plot gimmicks.
How will it end? You may stop caring, but there is enough entertainment thanks to the two stars and sufficient eye-catching international locations to make the film easy to watch no matter what you ultimately think of it. Other key cast members include Denis O’Hare, Kathleen Chalfant, Tom McCarthy, Carrie Preston and Rick Worthy. A Universal Pictures release.
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